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Consultative paper on calling number display

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) will issue tomorrow (Friday) a consultative paper entitled "Calling Number Display".

The paper explains what Calling Number Display (CND) is and invites public views on the questions of whether CND services should be introduced in Hong Kong and what privacy safeguards should be offered to consumers in using CND services.

"CND is a service which automatically identifies the telephone number of the line from where the call is being made to the receiver. The number is displayed before the telephone is answered," a spokesman for OFTA explained.

"A basic CND service has at its core a privacy dilemma: the service simultaneously takes privacy away from the caller and enhances privacy to the receiver.

"Most telephone users are likely to find the service useful for call screening but some may have difficulties under certain situations.

"In particular, CND service may make it harder to make anonymous calls where the caller does not want to reveal his or her identify or where the caller does not want to reveal the identity of the line from which they are calling, for example, in certain help-lines."

CND service is a telecommunications service but its impact goes beyond telecommunications. This consultative paper attempts to set the provision of such a service in its wider context and will also focus on issues related to data protection and personal privacy apart from telecommunications issues.

OFTA will consider the feedback from the public and the industry before mapping out new regulatory policy to address the privacy needs of the called and the calling parties.

Copies of the consultative paper may be obtained at any of the 18 District Offices or the Office of the Telecommunications Authority or by dialling into the bulletin board service of OFTA (telephone: 2834 0119).